Shou Chew, TikTok’s chief executive, is appearing for the first time on Thursday before Congress, as the solo witness in a hearing about the dangers of the video app. TikTok is owned by the Chinese internet giant ByteDance, which has prompted concerns that the app could share sensitive data from American users with the Chinese government.

It’s become a rite of passage for tech chiefs, like Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Sundar Pichai, to endure tough questions as witnesses in Congressional hearings over the potential harms of their products. But Mr. Chew, 40, is not from Silicon Valley and stands apart from those other executives.

The Singaporean-born executive will serve as a deflector for TikTok, taking the heat for the app while touting its popularity and how it serves as a platform for creators and small businesses. Mr. Chew has repeatedly denied TikTok’s links to China. And he has emphasized that he lives in Singapore with his wife and two children.